among top 10, on my list

Rating: 10/10 (15 January 2005)

this movie is absolutely great and should not be missed. though i think if i watched it 3 years ago i would not appreciate it so much, so i understand why its so low-rated. but it really should be like 8.3/10 or so.
the movie has an apocalyptic theme, i.e. everybody dies, and there is no hope-like. still, i consider it an ultimately 'good' movie, one that affirms the goodness of human heart. one of the central questions raised by the movie is this: in complete hopelessness and despair, what is there to live for, what is more to life than mere surviving? the movie does have an answer. a horror movie, but could as well be a modified psychological drama.
that is substance. style -- oh, style is just amazing. the film was shot on digital cameras, very dynamic. most scenes have a photographic quality to them. you can literally freeze almost any frame and get a poster, or at least a very good photograph. consequently, no matter what actually happens at any particular scene, it is still a pleasure to watch -- like watching a slide show of good photos. there should be more such movies. (Frida and A clockwork orange are examples of movies with EVERY scene carefully and superbly produced)
style of speech is realistic and down-to-earth, street-like. anti comic book, i'd say. like, in pop American movies characters with over-boosted ego speak in this pathetic unrealistic style, like 'i know i'm a good guy and i'll KILL YOU, and y'know it.' But here its different. notice when Jim and Samantha meet Frank and his daughter, and Frank says "I'm Frank, anyway" -- it is so... real, so true. very nostalgic, for me at least. (i'm a European living in the U.S.)
the army spirit is depicted realistically. the base commander reminds of Apocalypse Now. Same moral deterioration, same outlet of despair.
the plot could not be any better. first Jim finds himself alone, lucky to see any survivors at all, then their little squad is able to reach a fortified 'heaven', then... watch the movie.
for many viewers the most important thing in any movie is main characters, how much they like them, how they can associate with them. in this respect 28 d. l. too strikes a high point. the characters are great. the 'big softy' Frank in particular...
the only real objection anyone may have is the ridiculously short developing period of the decease. 20 sec -- and the infected has a fully developed Rage. this is scientific nonsense. however, it makes the movie extremely dynamic, and i think it works.
i give this movie 10, because everything in it -- the theme, the characters, the style -- appeal to me. it's surely among top ten for me.